Clatterer - Clear

3. Rapid, noisy talk; babble; chatter. “Hold still thy clatter.” Towneley Myst. (15 th Cent. ).
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Throw by your clatter
And handle the matter. B. Jonson
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Clatterer (?), n. One who clatters.
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Clatteringly, adv. With clattering.
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Claude Lorraine glass (?). [Its name is supposed to be derived from the similarity of the effects it gives to those of a picture by Claude Lorrain (often written Lorraine).] A slightly convex mirror, commonly of black glass, used as a toy for viewing the reflected landscape.
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Claudent (?), a. [L. claudens, p. pr. of claudere to shut.] Shutting; confining; drawing together; as, a claudent muscle. [R.] Jonson
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Claudicant (?), a. [L. claudicans, p. pr. of claudicare to limp, fr. claudus lame.] Limping. [R.]
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Claudication (?), n. [L. claudicatio.] A halting or limping. [R.] Tatler.
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Clause (?), n. [F. clause, LL. clausa, equiv. to L. clausula clause, prop., close of � rhetorical period, close, fr. claudere to shut, to end. See .] 1. A separate portion of a written paper, paragraph, or sentence; an article, stipulation, or proviso, in a legal document.
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The usual attestation clause to a will. Bouvier.
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2. (Gram.) A subordinate portion or a subdivision of a sentence containing a subject and its predicate.
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Clause, n. [Obs.] See Letters clause or Letters close, under .
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Claustral (?), a. [F., fr. LL. claustralis, fr. L. claustrum. See .] Cloistral. Ayliffe
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Claustrum (?), n.; pl. Claustra. [L., a bolt or bar.] (Anat.) A thin lamina of gray matter in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain of man. -- Claustral, a.
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Clausular (?; 135), a. [From L. clausula. See , n.] Consisting of, or having, clauses. Smart.
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Clausure (?; 135), n. [L. clausura. See .] The act of shutting up or confining; confinement. [R.] Geddes.
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{ Clavate (?), Clavated (?), } a. [L. clava club.] (Bot. & Zoöl.) Club-shaped; having the form of a club; growing gradually thicker toward the top. [See Illust. of .]
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Clave (klāv), imp. of . [Obs.]
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Clavecin (?), n. [F.] The harpsichord.
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Clavel (klāvĕl), n. See .
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Clavellate (klăvĕll�t), a. See .
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Clavellated (klăvĕllātĕd), a. [Cf. LL. cineres clavelatti ashes of burnt lees or dregs of wine, F. clavel an inferior sort of soda, E. clavate.] (Old Chem.) Said of potash, probably in reference to its having been obtained from billets of wood by burning. [Obs.]
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Claver (?), n. [Obs.] See . Holland.
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Claver, n. Frivolous or nonsensical talk; prattle; chattering. [Scot. & North of Eng.]
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Emmy found herself entirely at a loss in the midst of their clavers. Thackeray.
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Claviceps n. a genus of fungi parasitic upon the ovaries of various grasses.
Syn. -- genus Claviceps.
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Clavichord (?), n. [F. clavicorde, fr. L. clavis key + chorda string.] (Mus.) A keyed stringed instrument, now superseded by the pianoforte. See .
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Clavicle (?), n. [F. clavicule, fr. L. clavicula a little key, tendril, dim. of clavis key, akin to claudere to shut. See , and cf. .] (Anat.) The collar bone, which is joined at one end to the scapula, or shoulder blade, and at the other to the sternum, or breastbone. In man each clavicle is shaped like the letter �, and is situated just above the first rib on either side of the neck. In birds the two clavicles are united ventrally, forming the merrythought, or wishbone.
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Clavicorn (?), a. [Cf. F. clavicorne.] (Zoöl.) Having club-shaped antennæ. See -- n. One of the Clavicornes.
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Clavicornes (?), n. pl. [NL.; Fr. L. clava club + cornu horn.] (Zoöl.) A group of beetles having club-shaped antennæ.
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Clavicular (?), a. [Cf. F. claviculaire. See .] (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the clavicle.
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Clavier (? F. ?), n. [F., fr. L. clavis key.] (Mus.) The keyboard of an organ, pianoforte, or harmonium.
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☞ Clavier (�) is the German name for a pianoforte.
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Claviform (?), a. [L. clava club + -form.] (Bot.) Club-shaped; clavate. Craig.
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Claviger (?), n. [L., fr. clavis key + gerere to carry.] One who carries the keys of any place.
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Claviger, n. [L., fr. clava club + gerere to carry.] One who carries a club; a club bearer.
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Clavigerous (?), a. Bearing a club or a key.
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Clavis (?), n.; pl. L. Claves (#), E. Clavises (#). [L.] A key; a glossary.
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Clavus (?), n. [L., a nail.] A callous growth, esp. one the foot; a corn.
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Clavy (?), n.; pl. Clavies (#). [Cf. F. claveau centerpiece of an arch.] (Arch.) A mantelpiece.
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Claw (kl�), n. [AS. clawu, clā, cleó; akin to D. klaauw, G. klaue, Icel. klō, Sw. & Dan. klo, and perh. to E. clew.] 1. A sharp, hooked nail, as of a beast or bird.
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2. The whole foot of an animal armed with hooked nails; the pinchers of a lobster, crab, etc.
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3. Anything resembling the claw of an animal, as the curved and forked end of a hammer for drawing nails.
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4. (Bot.) A slender appendage or process, formed like a claw, as the base of petals of the pink. Gray.
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Coloq. Claw hammer , a hammer with one end of the metallic head cleft for use in extracting nails, etc. -- Coloq. Claw hammer coat , a dress coat of the swallowtail pattern. [Slang] -- Coloq. Claw sickness , foot rot, a disease affecting sheep.
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Claw (kl�), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clawed (kl�d); p. pr. & vb. n. Clawing.] [AS. clawan. See , n.] 1. To pull, tear, or scratch with, or as with, claws or nails.
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2. To relieve from some uneasy sensation, as by scratching; to tickle; hence, to flatter; to court. [Obs.]
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Rich men they claw, soothe up, and flatter; the poor they contemn and despise. Holland.
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3. To rail at; to scold. [Obs.]
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In the aforesaid preamble, the king fairly claweth the great monasteries, wherein, saith he, religion, thanks be to God, is right well kept and observed; though he claweth them soon after in another acceptation. T. Fuller
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Coloq. Claw me, claw thee , stand by me and I will stand by you; -- an old proverb. Tyndale. -- Coloq. To claw away , to scold or revile. “The jade Fortune is to be clawed away for it, if you should lose it.” L'Estrange. -- Coloq. To claw (one) on the back , to tickle; to express approbation. (Obs.) Chaucer. -- Coloq. To claw (one) on the gall , to find fault with; to vex. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Claw, v. i. To scrape, scratch, or dig with a claw, or with the hand as a claw. “Clawing [in ash barrels] for bits of coal.” W. D. Howells.
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Coloq. To claw off (Naut.), to turn to windward and beat, to prevent falling on a lee shore.
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Clawback (?), n. A flatterer or sycophant. [Obs.] “Take heed of these clawbacks.” Latimer.
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Clawback, a. Flattering; sycophantic. [Obs.]
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Like a clawback parasite. Bp. Hall.
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Clawback, v. t. To flatter. [Obs.] Warner.
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Clawed (kl�d), a. Furnished with claws. N. Grew.
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Clawless, a. Destitute of claws.
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clawlike adj. having a base shaped like a claw; -- of flower petals.
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claxon n. a kind of loud horn formerly used on motor vehicles.
Syn. -- klaxon.
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claxon v. to sound loudly; -- of car horns.
Syn. -- honk, blare, beep, toot, klaxon.
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2. to use the horn of a car.
Syn. -- honk.
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Clay (klā), n. [AS. clǣg; akin to LG. klei, D. klei, and perh. to AS. clām clay, L. glus, gluten glue, Gr. gloios glutinous substance, E. glue. Cf. .] 1. A soft earth, which is plastic, or may be molded with the hands, consisting of hydrous silicate of aluminium. It is the result of the wearing down and decomposition, in part, of rocks containing aluminous minerals, as granite. Lime, magnesia, oxide of iron, and other ingredients, are often present as impurities.
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2. (Poetry & Script.) Earth in general, as representing the elementary particles of the human body; hence, the human body as formed from such particles.
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I also am formed out of the clay. Job xxxiii. 6.
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The earth is covered thick with other clay,
Which her own clay shall cover. Byron.
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Coloq. Bowlder clay . See under . -- Coloq. Brick clay , the common clay, containing some iron, and therefore turning red when burned. -- Coloq. Clay cold , cold as clay or earth; lifeless; inanimate. -- Coloq. Clay ironstone , an ore of iron consisting of the oxide or carbonate of iron mixed with clay or sand. -- Coloq. Clay marl , a whitish, smooth, chalky clay. -- Coloq. Clay mill , a mill for mixing and tempering clay; a pug mill. -- Coloq. Clay pit , a pit where clay is dug. -- Coloq. Clay slate (Min.), argillaceous schist; argillite. -- Coloq. Fatty clays , clays having a greasy feel; they are chemical compounds of water, silica, and aluminia, as halloysite, bole, etc. -- Coloq. Fire clay , a variety of clay, entirely free from lime, iron, or an alkali, and therefore infusible, and used for fire brick. -- Coloq. Porcelain clay , a very pure variety, formed directly from the decomposition of feldspar, and often called kaolin. -- Coloq. Potter's clay , a tolerably pure kind, free from iron.
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Clay, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Clayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Claying.] 1. To cover or manure with clay.
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2. To clarify by filtering through clay, as sugar.
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Clay-brained (?), a. Stupid. [Obs.] Shak.
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Clayes (klāz), n. pl. [F. claie hurdle.] (Fort.) Wattles, or hurdles, made with stakes interwoven with osiers, to cover lodgments. [Obs.]
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Clayey (?), a. Consisting of clay; abounding with clay; partaking of clay; like clay.
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Clayish, a. Partaking of the nature of clay, or containing particles of it.
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Claymore (klāmōr), n. [Gael. claidheamhmor a broadsword; Gael. claidheamh sword + mor great, large. Cf. .] A large two-handed sword used formerly by the Scottish Highlanders.
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Claymore mine (klāmōr mīn), n. (Mil.) an antipersonnel land mine designed to produce a high-velocity spray of steel fragments in a relatively narrow fan-shaped cone, directed toward the enemy. They are usually detonated by an electrical remote control.
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Claytonia (?), prop. n. [Named after Dr. John Clayton, an American botanist.] (Bot.) An American genus of perennial herbs with delicate blossoms; -- sometimes called spring beauty.
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clayware n. Objects made from clay and baked in a kiln.
Syn. -- pottery.
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Cleading (?), n. [Scot., clothing. See .]
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1. A jacket or outer covering of wood, etc., to prevent radiation of heat, as from the boiler, cylinder. etc., of a steam engine.
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2. The planking or boarding of a shaft, cofferdam, etc.
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Clean (klēn), a. [Compar. Cleaner (klēnẽr); superl. Cleanest.] [OE. clene, AS. clǣne; akin to OHG. chleini pure, neat, graceful, small, G. klein small, and perh. to W. glan clean, pure, bright; all perh. from a primitive, meaning bright, shining. Cf. .] 1. Free from dirt or filth; as, clean clothes.
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2. Free from that which is useless or injurious; without defects; as, clean land; clean timber.
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3. Free from awkwardness; not bungling; adroit; dexterous; as, a clean trick; a clean leap over a fence.
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4. Free from errors and vulgarisms; as, a clean style.
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5. Free from restraint or neglect; complete; entire.
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When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of corners of thy field. Lev. xxiii. 22.
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6. Free from moral defilement; sinless; pure.
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Create in me a clean heart, O God. Ps. li. 10
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That I am whole, and clean, and meet for Heaven Tennyson.
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7. (Script.) Free from ceremonial defilement.
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8. Free from that which is corrupting to the morals; pure in tone; healthy. “Lothair is clean.” F. Harrison.
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9. Well-proportioned; shapely; as, clean limbs.
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Coloq. A clean bill of health , a certificate from the proper authority that a ship is free from infection. -- Coloq. Clean breach . See under , n., 4. -- Coloq. To make a clean breast . See under .
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Clean, adv. 1. Without limitation or remainder; quite; perfectly; wholly; entirely. “Domestic broils clean overblown.” Shak.

“Clean contrary.” Milton.
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All the people were passed clean over Jordan. Josh. iii. 17.
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2. Without miscarriage; not bunglingly; dexterously. [Obs.] “Pope came off clean with Homer.” Henley.
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Clean (klēn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleaned (klēnd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cleaning.] [See , a., and cf. .] To render clean; to free from whatever is foul, offensive, or extraneous; to purify; to cleanse.
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Coloq. To clean out , to exhaust; to empty; to get away from (one) all his money. [Colloq.] De Quincey.
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Clean-cut (klēnkŭt), a. See .
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Cleaner (?), n. One who, or that which, cleans.
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cleaners n. a shop where dry cleaning is done.
Syn. -- dry cleaners, laundry, laundry shop.
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Cleaning, n. 1. The act of making clean.
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2. The afterbirth of cows, ewes, etc. Gardner.
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Cleanlily (?), adv. In a cleanly manner.
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Clean-limbed (?), a. With well-proportioned, unblemished limbs; as, a clean-limbed young fellow. Dickens.
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Cleanliness (klĕnlĭnĕs), n. [From .] State of being cleanly; neatness of person or dress.
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Cleanliness from head to heel. Swift.
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clean-living adj. living in a manner above moral reproach; especially, abstaining from unlawful sexual intercourse and excessive drunkenness.
Syn. -- chaste.
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Cleanly (?), a. [Compar. Cleanlier (?); superl. Cleanliest.] [From .] 1. Habitually clean; pure; innocent. “Cleanly joys.” Glanvill.
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Some plain but cleanly country maid. Dryden.
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Displays her cleanly platter on the board. Goldsmith.
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2. Cleansing; fitted to remove moisture; dirt, etc. [Obs.] “With cleanly powder dry their hair.” Prior.
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3. Adroit; skillful; dexterous; artful. [Obs.]
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Through his fine handling and his cleanly play. Spenser.
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Cleanly (?), adv. 1. In a clean manner; neatly.
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He was very cleanly dressed. Dickens.
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2. Innocently; without stain. Shak.
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3. Adroitly; dexterously. Middleton.
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Cleanness, n. [AS. cl�nnes. See .] 1. The state or quality of being clean.
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2. Purity of life or language; freedom from licentious courses. Chaucer.
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Cleansable (klĕnzȧb'l), a. Capable of being cleansed. Sherwood.
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Cleanse (klĕnz), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleansed (klĕnzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Cleansing.] [AS. clǣnsian, fr. clǣne clean. See .] To render clean; to free from fith, pollution, infection, guilt, etc.; to clean.
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If we walk in the light . . . the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7.
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Can'st thou not minister to a mind diseased,
And with some sweet oblivious antidote
Cleanse the suffed bosom of that perilous stuff
Which weighs upon the heart? Shak.
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cleansed (klĕnzd), adj. having been made clean. Opposite of dirty. clean
Syn. -- cleaned, scrubbed.
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Cleanser (klĕnzẽr), n. [AS. clǣnsere.] One who, or that which, cleanses; especially, a detergent or other preparation used for cleaning. Arbuthnot.
Syn. -- cleansing agent, cleaner.
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clean-shaven adj. having the surface shaved to smoothness.
Syn. -- smooth-shaven, well-shaven.
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Clean-timbered (?), a. Well-proportioned; symmetrical. [Poetic] Shak.
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Clear (klēr), a. [Compar. Clearer (-ẽr); superl. Clearest.] [OE. cler, cleer, OF. cler, F. clair, fr.L. clarus, clear, bright, loud, distinct, renowned; perh. akin to L. clamare to call, E. claim. Cf. , , , .] 1. Free from opaqueness; transparent; bright; light; luminous; unclouded.
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The stream is so transparent, pure, and clear. Denham.
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Fair as the moon, clear as the sun. Canticles vi. 10.
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2. Free from ambiguity or indistinctness; lucid; perspicuous; plain; evident; manifest; indubitable.
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One truth is clear; whatever is, is right. Pope.
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3. Able to perceive clearly; keen; acute; penetrating; discriminating; as, a clear intellect; a clear head.
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Mother of science! now I feel thy power
Within me clear, not only to discern
Things in their causes, but to trace the ways
Of highest agents. Milton.
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4. Not clouded with passion; serene; cheerful.
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With a countenance as clear
As friendship wears at feasts. Shak.
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5. Easily or distinctly heard; audible; canorous.
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Hark! the numbers soft and clear
Gently steal upon the ear. Pope.
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6. Without mixture; entirely pure; as, clear sand.
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7. Without defect or blemish, such as freckles or knots; as, a clear complexion; clear lumber.
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8. Free from guilt or stain; unblemished.
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Statesman, yet friend to truth! in soul sincere,
In action faithful, and in honor clear. Pope.
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9. Without diminution; in full; net; as, clear profit.
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I often wished that I had clear,
For life, six hundred pounds a-year. Swift.
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10. Free from impediment or obstruction; unobstructed; as, a clear view; to keep clear of debt.
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My companion . . . left the way clear for him. Addison.
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11. Free from embarrassment; detention, etc.
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The cruel corporal whispered in my ear,
Five pounds, if rightly tipped, would set me clear. Gay.
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Coloq. Clear breach . See under , n., 4. -- Coloq. Clear days (Law.), days reckoned from one day to another, excluding both the first and last day; as, from Sunday to Sunday there are six clear days. -- Coloq. Clear stuff , boards, planks, etc., free from knots.

Syn. -- Manifest; pure; unmixed; pellucid; transparent; luminous; obvious; visible; plain; evident; apparent; distinct; perspicuous. See .
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Clear (klēr), n. (Carp.) Full extent; distance between extreme limits; especially; the distance between the nearest surfaces of two bodies, or the space between walls; as, a room ten feet square in the clear.
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Clear, adv. 1. In a clear manner; plainly.
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Now clear I understand
What oft . . . thoughts have searched in vain. Milton.
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2. Without limitation; wholly; quite; entirely; as, to cut a piece clear off.
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Clear, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cleared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Clearing.] 1. To render bright, transparent, or undimmed; to free from clouds.
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He sweeps the skies and clears the cloudy north. Dryden.
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2. To free from impurities; to clarify; to cleanse.
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3. To free from obscurity or ambiguity; to relive of perplexity; to make perspicuous.
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Many knotty points there are
Which all discuss, but few can clear. Prior.
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4. To render more quick or acute, as the understanding; to make perspicacious.
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Our common prints would clear up their understandings. Addison
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5. To free from impediment or incumbrance, from defilement, or from anything injurious, useless, or offensive; as, to clear land of trees or brushwood, or from stones; to clear the sight or the voice; to clear one's self from debt; -- often used with of, off, away, or out.
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Clear your mind of cant. Dr. Johnson.
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A statue lies hid in a block of marble; and the art of the statuary only clears away the superfluous matter. Addison.
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6. To free from the imputation of guilt; to justify, vindicate, or acquit; -- often used with from before the thing imputed.
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I . . . am sure he will clear me from partiality. Dryden.
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How! wouldst thou clear rebellion? Addison.
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7. To leap or pass by, or over, without touching or failure; as, to clear a hedge; to clear a reef.
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8. To gain without deduction; to net.
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The profit which she cleared on the cargo. Macaulay.
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Coloq. To clear a ship at the customhouse , to exhibit the documents required by law, give bonds, or perform other acts requisite, and procure a permission to sail, and such papers as the law requires. -- Coloq. To clear a ship for action , or Coloq. To clear for action (Naut.), to remove incumbrances from the decks, and prepare for an engagement. -- Coloq. To clear the land (Naut.), to gain such a distance from shore as to have sea room, and be out of danger from the land. -- Coloq. To clear hawse (Naut.), to disentangle the cables when twisted. -- Coloq. To clear up , to explain; to dispel, as doubts, cares or fears.
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